Pesach, Emunah and the Chinuch Opportunity of a Lifetime
A man joyfully concentrating as he fulfills the commandment to put blood on the doorpost.
In the lead up to the redemption from Egypt, Hashem commanded the mitzva of the korban Pesach to the nascent nation of Israel. Its purpose for all generations was to inspire praise and thanksgiving to Hashem for the death of the Egyptian first born and the sparing of ours. However, at the time of the redemption the sacrifice served a practical purpose. “…and the blood will be for you for a sign on the houses, and the plague of the destroyer will not be upon you…”
A question raised by the Netivot Shalom Z”L, why was there a need for a sign to distinguish between the Jews and Egyptians for this plague but for no other? In part, the purpose for the ten plagues was to clarify for all, and especially the Jews, the difference between the two groups of people. Yet, at no time were the Jews commanded to do something to reinforce this distinction, except by the death of the first born.
Even more so, from the Haggadah of Passover we learn that Hashem Himself wrought the ultimate punishment on Egypt and not one of the angels. So why is a distinguishing sign necessary? The Hassidic master explained the uniqueness of the death of the first born as an action with two purposes. Keeping in line with the other nine plagues, the tenth one didn’t require a physical sign for the Jews to ensure their safety. The Egyptians were punished ten times to secure the ultimate redemption.
However, the second purpose for the death of the first born was to establish Israel as the chosen nation. “On the day I smote every first-born in the land of Egypt, I sanctified them (the Am Yisrael) to Me.” At that moment, Hashem smote the first born of every Egyptian family and sanctified the Jewish people to be His treasured nation. So, we come to understand the blood on the doors of the homes as a fulfilment of a command to identify which homes were the truly Jewish ones, who should be a member of Hashem’s chosen people.
What made the blood such a telling sign for identifying membership in Jewish nationhood was its composition. It was a mixture of two bloods, korban Pesach and berit mila. These two mitzvot were chosen by Hashem to be performed in the hours leading up to the death of the first born as the nation approached redemption totally bereft of mitzvot. As the Navi describes the homes of the Jews the night of the death of the first born, “and I passed over you and I saw the mixing of your bloods.” He described the two bloods mixed together and smeared on the door frames of their homes.
Each blood was a symbol of a mitzva which attributed to each participant a significant spiritual endowment. The Pesach symbolized Emunah, the faith that each Jewish home would be spared from death. By putting the blood on the doors and not leaving their homes, they recognized the hashgacha peratit for each family. The blood of circumcision was a symbol of kedusha because the Jews were set apart from the Egyptians in performing the berit mila. This second achievement is clearly hinted at in a verse previously mentioned, “in the day I smote every first-born in the land of Egypt, I sanctified them (the Am Yisrael) to Me.”
When it comes to instilling Emunah in children and getting them to recognize they are members of a chosen nation, there is a need to plant seeds and nurture their growth over time. This process should begin when a child is very young. The Rambam states that parents should begin teaching children Torah when they begin to speak. They should begin by teaching them two pessukim, Torah Tzivah Lanu Moshe Morasha Kehilat Yaakov and Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Achad, in this order.
From Torah Tzivah… children internalize the message that Moshe was a great Navi, He commanded us to keep the Torah, and we are part of the nation called Kehilat Yakov or Am Yisrael. From this passuk the seeds of kedushah, we were chosen to be Hashem’s Holy nation, are planted in the hearts of Jewish children. This message can be reinforced daily when children make bircot HaTorah- asher bachar banu…, every Shabbat and Yomtov in Kiddush and Havdala- Ki vanu vacharta… and haMavdil…bein Yisrael LaAmim…
Emunah is primarily internalized by children at the Pesach Seder. The Netivot Shalom recognizes the seder as the Rosh Hashanah for Emunah. That means, if the important parts of the seder impact the children well, the Emunah that flows from it will have a lasting effect for the entire year. The makkot, which are meant to distinguish between the punishment of the Egyptians and the salvation of the Jews, standout in promoting Emunah. Jewish history, Jewish current events and any Hashgacha Peratit situations throughout the year will deepen faith in children.
Regarding current events and Hashgacha Peratit situations, parents need to make children aware of these events and emphasize Hashem’s direct involvement in making them happen. If you are consistent in pointing them out, there won’t be a need to acknowledge them with anything more than minimal embellishment, the most effective approach.
The one other highly effective middot acquisition method is parents as role models. Children will be inspired by parents who approach all the Emunah and Kedusha opportunities mentioned in a serious and inspired way. Children will also gain greatly from parents who make all their Berachot, tefillot and other mitzvot as true servants of Hashem.
As the Rosh Hashanah of Emunah, the seder serves as the most important chinuch activity in the life of a family. Therefore, the main emphasis of the evening should be child-centered.